Fire, rebulding, dedication

A plaque notes the fire, rebuilding and dedication of the new Zion Lutheran Church in Oriska. Dave Wallis / The Forum

A cross and a candlestick holder were rescued from the fire and are on display at the new Zion Lutheran Church in Oriska. Dave Wallis / The Forum

The Rev. Dan Faust, a retired Lutheran minister who serves as Zion Lutherans pastor, holds a copy of the Valley City Times Record showing the news of the fire. Dave Wallis / The Forum

ORISKA, N.D. - Even as the Zion Lutheran Church burned to the ground May 16, 2011, the congregation wasnt ready to give up.

As smoke and flames swallowed the 108-year-old building, former Zion president Tom Utke heard them say it over and over again: Were going to rebuild.

Almost one year later, a new church stands. On Mothers Day, the new Zion Lutheran Church hosted a confirmation class of three eighth-graders one whose family has been a member of the church for six generations.

At a time when small, country churches with dwindling memberships are folding, this town of 118 took a leap of faith. They built a new church, not only through their own efforts and donations, but also through the generosity of another church.

Fifty miles northeast of here, the members of Blanchard Lutheran Church had decided to close its doors. Bishop Bill Rindy of the ELCAs Eastern North Dakota Synod contacted the congregation to see if they could help Zion, whose insurance would only pay for the shell of the building. Blanchards members responded with a generosity that surprised even Rindy.

Today, reminders of Blanchard Lutheran are everywhere. The light oak pews are from Blanchard, as is the altar. The collection plates, the baptismal font, the organ, the sound system and the cross atop the building are gifts from Blanchard. The appliances, dishes and the broom and dustpan for Zions yet-to-be-constructed fellowship hall all Blanchard.

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Out of the ashes: Town's efforts, another congregation's generosity resurrect Oriska church

... [W]hatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me, Jesus said in a New International Version translation from Matthews Gospel. Taking the scriptures to heart, the youth of Crosby Church will build and will dwell overnight in a camp that they will make out of cardboard boxes like those in which many homeless people are known to sleep.

In the process of this temporary exercise, participating youth will raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and will collect donations of goods that those who are homeless need.

The youth are collecting building materials now. They will assemble and live overnight in their Box City from 8 p.m. on May 25 until 8 a.m. on May 26, hearing from speakers and taking part in other activities that will be planned.

The outreach is not a run-of-the-mill Friday night. Box City is not a run-of-the-mill construction project. Then, again, homelessness is not supposed to be a run-of-the-mill state.

Im just really excited about our Box City event, Crosby Church Senior Pastor Keenan Smith said. The young people will be setting up boxes, tarps, and different temporary structures, something similar to what someone who is homeless would be living in or making accommodations with.

All of our young people are going to experience a night of homelessness. They are going to be sleeping in the parking lot, just out under the stars. If its adverse weather, they will be in the rain. If its chilly, they will be cool, whatever it is, to just kind of help them understand and recognize not only them but our community the plight of the homeless. Admission is a sack of canned goods that will be donated to a homeless shelter.

Crosby Church youth will show the community that which they will learn, what some of the least among us experience.

Im really excited about what it pours into our young people, the value and the appreciation of the things that we have, Smith said, and an understanding that there are those, that are all around us, in our midst, that are less fortunate, and the responsibility that we have, as a church and as a society, to be able to reach out and to help them get back on their feet or find a place.

Smith has planned events in recent years, such serving food or donating shoes or socks to homeless people, to instill in young congregants the palpable sense of hopelessness that accompanies homelessness. Each activity, Box City included, is a two-fold reality check about the nature and the proximity of the problem.

It is a sad indictment that a lot of our young people didnt realize that you dont have to go to a third-world country, that some of it is right around here, Smith said. So I think it is just really a neat awareness thing that is going to be happening in our region and in our community.

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Crosby Church youth to build Box City May 25

The big hail storm last August did a lot of damage in Maryville, but the members of one local church found inspiration in the destruction a spirit of sharing that has led them to reach out to a tiny east African village more than 8,000 miles distant from Nodaway County.

After the storm, the First Presbyterian Church of Maryville learned that its building would need a new roof. At around $70,000, it was not a cheap fix. Even with an insurance settlement and some money bequeathed from the estate of a deceased member, the small congregation about 100 people altogether was hard pressed to come up with the cash.

But then someone got to thinking, wasn't there a way to turn a negative into a positive? How could the church transform something as mundane even as a new roof into an expression of the congregation's faith and willingness to minister to others?

The answer came in the form of a tithe, the Old Testament principal that 10 percent of a faith community's resources should be offered to God.

Tithing as an expression of faith is perhaps most famously described in Malachi 3.10: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing "

In others words, give God a little, and God will give you a lot.

So the decision was made: First Presbyterian would raise 10 percent over what it cost to fix the roof and dedicate the additional funds to the Lord's work. But what work would that be?

As it happened there is a pastor named David Nzioka at the Swahili-speaking Neema Community Fellowship in Kansas City. Nzioka grew up in Thwake Village, Kenya, and his Neema Fellowship and First Presbyterian both belong to the Heartland Presbytery, an association of about 100 Midwestern Presbyterian churches.

First Presbyterian Pastor Jonathan Mitchell and Nzioka know one another and began talking about the possibility of some sort of partnership. Since Nzioka is heavily involved in mission work on behalf of his native village, Mitchell asked him what Thwake needed that would cost, say, around $7,000.

The answer was, "A church."

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Church roof turned into a symbol of giving

The Rev. Forrest Moore, pastor of West Highland Baptist Church, speaks during a service held Sunday afternoon in the building of Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church. West Highlands building was destroyed in the April 27, 2011, tornado, and the church has recently broken ground for a new facility on the grounds of the old one.

TUSCALOOSA | The West Highland Baptist Church was virtually wiped off the map in a matter of seconds.

The church was reduced to a pile of rubble by the April 27, 2011, tornado.

But rather than mourn, West Highlands members reacted to the devastation with thanksgiving and celebration.

The feelings that day were feelings of thanksgiving to God that He had warned us not to be there, said the Rev. Forrest Moore, pastor of West Highland. People were not as concerned about the building itself as they were about people being killed or injured.

We were supposed to have been there at that time of the storm, because it was on a Wednesday during a time wed be gathering together for prayer meeting and Bible study, he said. The Lord warned me to cancel it that day, so I called people telling them it would be canceled. Weve been thankful to God from point zero when we first found out that none of our folks were injured. We take a minute every Sunday to thank God for that.

On April 27, 2012, the anniversary of the churchs destruction, West Highlands congregants had another reason to celebrate.

Moore and several of the churchs leaders broke ground on a new church building at 628 29th St., the same location as the destroyed church.

It was awesome, Moore said of the groundbreaking ceremony. We had a tremendous turnout of both our members and others who were aware of it. It was exciting for our membership.

We had others who offered their sentiments, he said. They congratulated us. It definitely lifted the spirits of our members. Anything positive along those lines is always exciting for our congregation.

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Tornado-stricken Baptist church begins the rebuilding process

Beacon-News staff May 14, 2012 4:52PM

Updated: May 14, 2012 6:52PM

AURORA Church Road between Butterfield Road and Interstate 88 will be under construction for the next six months as part of a street widening project.

The construction project starts at 7 a.m. Wednesday and will close Church Road between Corporate Boulevard and Interstate 88, according to a press release from the city of Aurora. Church Road will be open for southbound local traffic only from Butterfield Road to Corporate Boulevard. Bilter Road and Corporate Boulevard will be open in both directions with occasional lane closures throughout the project.

The Church Road segment will be widened from a two-lane rural road to a three-lane street featuring a center turn lane for left-hand turns. Other improvements include the installation of storm sewers along with curbs and gutters.

Motorists should avoid the area if at all possible. Message boards and signs will direct motorists to the detour route, which is scheduled to change two to three times during the project.

Construction is anticipated to be completed in November, but the schedule could be revised if there are complications.

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Church Road in Aurora scheduled to close Wednesday

By DONALD R. SERFASS dserfass@tnonline.com

A Tamaqua church has major plans to improve access for members of its congregation.

Construction work for installation of an elevator has kicked into high gear at First United Methodist Church, 124 West Broad St., Tamaqua, according to the Rev. Jim Cavallero.

The 1852 brick and stone church is located within the Tamaqua National Historic District, and the church already has obtained appropriate approvals from zoning officials and the Tamaqua Historical Architectural Review Commission in order to begin with plans.

Heavy equipment is stationed adjacent to the church at the site of the former parsonage and last week a deep trench was dug to lay a foundation for the elevator shaft.

As congregations age at many churches, multi-story, 19th century churches often find themselves with a need to construct elevators for the convenience and accessibility of members. In fact, two other churches within one block of First United Methodist were retrofitted with elevators over the years.

In 1970, the First Presbyterian Church, 220 W. Broad St., installed and unveiled an elevator in its historic 1852 building. The elevator was dedicated by member J. Keilman Dudley in memory of his father John Lester Dudley. The congregation celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1996. The church building closed 11 years later as a result of consolidation, with the final service held on June 3, 2007. The building now serves as a private residence, art studio and gallery.

St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 266 W. Broad St., installed an elevator and dedicated it on September 24, 2000, along with unveiling the St. Jerome's Memorial Parish Center at the former site of the Tamaqua Salvation Army.

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Reaching up

09-05-2012 20:42 Belize Mission Overview with our Medical Mission Team, Feed-A-Child, Children's Ministry, and Church Construction, serving with International Servants and our Belize Mission Staff.

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09-05-2012 23:07 Belize Mission Trip - Promo Video - with our Medical Mission Team, Children's Ministry Team, and Church Construction Team, serving with International Servants and our Belize Mission Staff.

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10-05-2012 04:30 Belize Mission Trip 3 - with our Medical Mission Team, Children's Ministry Team, and Church Construction Team, serving with International Servants and our Belize Mission Staff.

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Belize Mission Trip 3, Medical, Childrens, Construction - iServants - Video

10-05-2012 01:53 Belize Mission Trip 2 - with our Medical Mission Team, Children's Ministry Team, and Church Construction Team, serving with International Servants and our Belize Mission Staff.

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Belize Mission Trip 2, Medical, Childrens, Construction - iServants - Video